Benny republished!

One of the questions I’m asked the most is, ‘When will Big Finish republish The Squire’s Crystal and The Glass Prison?’ And finally I have the answer: 16th February 2017!

Back in the early days of Big Finish Benny, it was decided to release novels that tied in with the ongoing audio storyline. Unfortunately while the audios have remained available for the last decade and a half, the novels went out of print, leaving new followers of Bernice Summerfield with only half the story. But now they’re going to be reborn as ebooks, so readers can at last find out how Benny became pregnant (no sniggering at the back, it’s more complicated than it sounds) and how she had her baby (in a vastly, vastly unrealistic way, I can now tell you, having myself become a mother of twins since I wrote the book).

The Squire’s Crystal is a body-swap comedy (body-swap being the greatest subgenre on Earth) and The Glass Prison is… nasty. Both got rather lovely reviews back in the day, so I’m hoping they still stand up all these years later. My only regret is that I can no longer rely on my single print copy of The Glass Prison to be my retirement fund (have you seen how much it’s been going for on eBay?!).

Enjoy! (Please.)

PROFESSOR BERNICE SUMMERFIELD AND THE SQUIRE’S CRYSTAL

Legend tells of an evil sorceress who used the power of magical crystals to transfer her mind into the bodies of others. Her reign of terror was long and bloody, and her final defeat the cause of great rejoicing.

But that’s just a legend. A story told to children. Isn’t it? I mean, it’s ridiculous. It couldn’t have really happened… could it?

Finding the last resting place of the Crystal Sorceress is an archaeological dream on a par with discovering the Holy Grail. So it’s hardly likely that someone will just offer the solution to Professor Bernice Summerfield on a plate.

But sometimes the unlikely actually happens. And one thing that’s very, very unlikely is that Benny will suddenly find herself to be a member of the opposite gender…

PROFESSOR BERNICE SUMMERFIELD AND THE GLASS PRISON

Don’t ever annoy the Fifth Axis. They might throw you into the Glass Prison on Deirbhile — and then throw away the key.

Once you’re inside, there’s nowhere to hide. They can see your every movement. They control you. You’re going to be watched for the rest of your life, wherever you go, whoever you are. Even if you’re a professor of archaeology. Even if you’re a friend of the famous Irving Braxiatel, and you’ve written several popular coffee-table books.

Even if you’re pregnant. Even if your baby’s due any day now.

But, of course, they know all about your baby. And they’re planning to take it away.

That is, if the scary cultists you’re locked up with don’t get it first.